As Ole Miss approaches the start of Year 2 under Lane Kiffin, expectations are heightened, and with good reason. The Rebels will boast one of the more dynamic offenses in the sport and hope they have rectified some of their defensive woes that handicapped their efforts last season.

Prognosticators aren’t sure what to make of the Rebels. ESPN’s FPI likes the Rebels to win 7 games but lose the Egg Bowl. SEC media picked the Rebels to finish 4th in the West — but well ahead of Mississippi State. One voter picked the Rebels to win the SEC title.

Up, down, unpredictable? Sounds about right. So let’s examine the 3 best- and worst- case scenarios for Ole Miss this fall.

Best-case scenarios:

1. Matt Corral emerges into a legitimate Heisman contender

If not for 2 games in which he threw 11 of his 14 interceptions, Matt Corral would’ve had numbers that fit the profile of a Heisman Trophy candidate. You of course cannot discount his 6-interception performance at Arkansas or his 5-interception afternoon in Baton Rouge, but for 8 of the 10 games Ole Miss played last year, Corral was close to flawless.

Decision making is really the only question mark on Corral’s résumé entering this 2021 season, and if he is able to improve in this area, Ole Miss could have the best offense in the sport this season. There’s reason to believe it will improve, mainly due to the newfound stability around Corral. For the first time in his career, he had an offseason with the same coordinator and head coach. The continuity should help him in Year 2 in Jeff Lebby and Kiffin’s scheme. If he is able to cut back on his interception total, Ole Miss will be a dangerous team.

2. Rebels find defensive line depth, consistent pass rush

The lack of a consistent pass rush and a young and overmatched secondary were the primary factors in Ole Miss’ defensive struggles in 2020. The Rebels badly need to formulate depth up front, particularly as it pertains to an exterior pass rush. Sam Williams is arguably the most talented player on the field but needs to become more consistent on a snap-by-snap basis. Cedric Johnson has had a good camp so far and Tariqious Tisdale appears to be poised for a productive year.

With more talent in the secondary, if Ole Miss can consistently pressure quarterbacks, the defense will be remarkably better than it was in 2020 and will likely lead to more wins.

3. Ole Miss goes 3-1 in its SEC road games

Ole Miss will visit Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn and Mississippi State. The Rebels likely will lose in Tuscaloosa, as will everyone else who enters Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2021, but the rest of their road SEC slate is pretty palatable.

Tennessee and Auburn have first-year head coaches, and Mississippi State is still transitioning its personnel to fit Mike Leach’s Air Raid system. If both of the aforementioned scenarios above come true, the Rebels will be a better road team for it.

If Ole Miss can go 3-1 in SEC road games, 10-2 with 6 SEC wins and a Sugar Bowl trip is possible. This, of course, is the absolute best prognosis for the Rebels in 2021, but it’s also not that far-fetched.

Worst-case scenarios:

1. The offensive line takes a step back

Ole Miss has built decent depth at guard and center but lacks depth at both tackle spots. Nick Broeker and Jeremy James should be formidable SEC tackles, but Ole Miss is relying on a couple of guys to develop behind them to build depth. If the o-line isn’t healthy, particularly at tackle, and the unit struggles as a result, it could have a pretty drastic adverse effect on the offense. Ole Miss led the SEC in rushing yards per game last season. Corral is ready to unleash his right arm. Ole Miss appears to be locked and loaded on offense, but this is one thing that could potentially hold it back.

2. The receiving corps takes a step back

Elijah Moore left big shoes to fill. He caught more passes than the Rebels’ next 3 receivers did combined. Braylon Sanders has the ability to be an elite SEC receiver if he can stay on the field, but the Rebels need another option or two behind him to emerge. The question is, who? Whether it’s transfer Jahcour Pearson or John Rhys Plumlee in the slot, or Jonathan Mingo on the outside, this is by far the biggest question on offense and could hinder production if Corral doesn’t have reliable targets to throw to.

3. The newfound secondary depth doesn’t hold true

On paper, Ole Miss should be much better in the secondary. There’s more athleticism at a variety of positions, but many of these guys have not played a lot. If the secondary struggles again like it did a year ago, Ole Miss will likely finish toward the bottom of the league in total defense. We saw what that looked like last year even juxtaposed with an elite offense. The defense not improving as a whole, particularly the secondary, could dampen the heightened expectations and see Ole Miss stumble to a 6-6 mark and a Liberty Bowl appearance.